Release Detail

April 6, 2000 - Gore Has Big Lead In New York Presidential Race,
Quinnipiac College Poll Finds;
Voters Back Pataki On Gun Control

New York State voters give Democratic Vice President Al Gore a commanding 53 - 36
percent lead over Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican candidate for President,
according to a Quinnipiac College poll released today. With Pat Buchanan running on the
reform ticket, Gore gets 52 percent, to 34 percent for Bush and 4 percent for Buchanan.

In a March 30 poll of New Jersey voters by the independent Quinnipiac College, the
Vice President had a 50 - 37 percent lead over Gov. Bush in New Jersey.

In this latest survey, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,058 New York State registered
voters March 28 - April 3. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

"When Vice President Gore or Gov. Bush come to New York, they probably will be
looking for money, not votes. The Republican will have to stage a major come-from-behind
coup to upset New York's Democratic tilt," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac
College Polling Institute.

By a 56 - 31 percent margin, New Yorkers approve of the job George Pataki is doing as
Governor. But only 31 percent of voters, including 49 percent of Republicans, would like to
see him run as GOP vice presidential candidate. If Pataki were the Republican running mate,
15 percent of New York voters would be more likely to vote Republican, while 22 percent
would be less likely and 62 percent say it would make no difference in their decision.

By a 37 - 25 percent margin, voters statewide have a favorable opinion of Gore, with 31
percent mixed and 6 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. This compares
to a 33 - 28 favorability rating for Gore in a March 1 Quinnipiac College poll.

Bush's favorability is 26 - 39 percent, with 28 percent mixed and 6 percent saying they
don't know enough to form an opinion. This is an improvement on his 24 - 44 percent rating in
the March 1 poll, when he was locked in a primary battle with Arizona Sen. John McCain.

By a 72 -22 percent margin, New Yorkers say controlling gun ownership is more
important than protecting Americans' right to own guns.

New York voter support for gun-control proposals advanced by Pataki is:

76 - 22 percent for a ban on the sale of assault weapons;

90 - 7 percent for requiring childproof trigger locks;

81 - 15 percent for raising the legal age for gun purchases from 18 to 21;

Only 54 percent of New Yorkers have heard of read anything about "ballistic
fingerprinting" for guns. Of that group, 85 percent are in favor.

"When it comes to gun control, Gov. Pataki is on the right side with New York State
voters. He might want to do a little more educating on the `ballistic fingerprinting' idea,"
Carroll said. "New Yorkers split 49 - 48 percent on an outright ban on handgun sales,
something Pataki has not proposed, but they're heavily in favor of other limitations on
weaponry."

The Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or (203) 287-5201.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his
job as Governor of New York?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom

Approve 56% 56% 46% 68% 77% 46% 55% 60% 35% 62% 51%

Disapprove 31 30 41 22 16 41 31 27 55 28 34

DK/NA 13 15 13 9 7 13 14 13 10 10 16

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his
job as President?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom

Approve 63% 54% 78% 60% 32% 85% 62% 57% 91% 57% 68%

Disapprove 33 42 20 35 66 12 33 39 6 39 28

DK/NA 4 4 3 5 2 3 5 4 3 4 4

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his
job as State Attorney General?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom

Approve 51% 52% 49% 53% 49% 54% 54% 52% 56% 52% 50%

Disapprove 14 13 18 11 19 12 11 12 17 18 10

DK/NA 35 36 33 36 32 34 35 36 27 29 40

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way H.Carl McCall is handling his
job as State Controller?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Men Wom

Approve 50% 48% 53% 52% 48% 54% 52% 48% 73% 53% 48%

Disapprove 11 11 12 9 13 10 10 10 12 14 9

DK/NA 38 41 35 39 38 36 38 42 15 33 43

12. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign
for President -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all?